Ryan McAllister Ph.D. is the creator and director of NotJustSkin.org. He’s also a writer frequently featured on Examiner.com, and currently he’s the intactivist world’s newest YouTube sensation.

At first glance McAllister looks like your average approachable guy next door. In his video presentation Child Circumcision: an Elephant in the Hospital, he is dressed in casual attire. His relaxed posture and his gentle voice have a way of setting you at ease. He addresses his audience the same way he might address a friend at the dinner table, with compassion, humor, and blatant honesty. Only minutes into his lecture you inevitably find yourself hanging on his every word.

“I’m going to talk with you about circumcision,” he explains. “I’m calling it the Elephant in the Hospital because it’s this huge thing that happens, as far as I see, in our culture but we have very little discourse about it. It’s performed between five hundred thousand and a million times each year in the U.S. almost entirely on infants within the first three days of life. It’s completely unnecessary and I believe, based on my research, entirely harmful to children.”

Over a span of thirty-three minutes time, McAllister goes on to examine:

-The most common rationales used to defend infant circumcision

-The history of circumcision in the U.S.

-Comparison of female and male genital cutting practices and attitudes

This powerful video, which was taped as part of a university course on human sexuality, has to date topped 2,600 hits on YouTube and over 550 likes on Vimeo. It’s been lighting up Facebook pages worldwide ever since its release in July 2011. Already this presentation has proven a valuable resource in the education of expectant parents who struggle with the circumcision decision. “I have heard from parents that they've chosen not to circumcise children because of it,” says McAllister.

Expectant parents aside, who did Ryan McAllister intend to reach with his message? “Everyone really,” he responds. “I think it's an issue for us to address as an entire society. I would like parents, medical professionals, others who care about children, and academics from the many relevant disciplines (gender, bioethics, critical theory, anthropology, medicine, etc.) to be thinking critically about this practice we have in mainstream U.S. culture of cutting children.”

Why does McAllister feel so passionate about routine infant circumcision in particular? “I believe that adults who interact professionally with children have a critical professional responsibility to bring a very high ethical standard to that work. And even more so with medical professionals, who also have a bioethical imperative to found their work in the needs of the children they serve.”

He goes on to discuss why he finds the practice of routine infant circumcision so troubling. “When I have spoken with medical professionals who perform or have the power to stop this procedure, what I've often heard is a discourse that, instead of being founded in the child's needs, generally lacks any reference to the child's needs. Take, for example, the conversation I mention in my lecture with Dr. Landy, the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Hospital. When a physician of that esteem tells me that she knows that this elective surgical procedure on a minor doesn't make sense medically, I say that gives her an ethical mandate to stop performing the procedure. However, she said that her department will not "be a beacon of light", that they will not stand out by ceasing to perform circumcision. The reason she gave is essentially economic -- that they want to provide circumcision as a service to parents so that birthing mothers don't choose another hospital in which to give birth. And I am deeply troubled by this reason.”

In addition to all the overwhelmingly positive feedback McAllister has received on his presentation, it’s clear his message has also ruffled some feathers. An attorney representing Georgetown University Hospital issued a letter disputing McAllister’s use of statements made by the Georgetown University Hospital Chair of Obstetrics. McAllister responds: “I have asserted that I am accurately representing my notes from the meeting, and I asked the hospital administration for a meeting to discuss the ethics of their practice of circumcision.”

To date, they have not responded to his request, but according to McAllister that’s not necessarily a bad sign. “My hope is that they will resolve to end the practice because it contradicts the fundamental bioethical principles of non-malfeasance and beneficence -- principles I would hope they aspire to as an institution. As it stands, consciously or unconsciously they're putting the physicians who work at their hospitals under institutional pressure to perform unnecessary surgery on minors -- which, when you look at it, is hard to defend ethically.”

Infant circumcision is only one of many issues McAllister hopes to address. “There are many other elephants in obstetrics -- places where standard practice is directly in conflict with both peer-reviewed research and the well-being of birthing women and newborns,” he points out. “I hope to draw attention to those elephants as well, as the current state of affairs mis-serves women, newborns, their families, and physicians.”

Sandy Roman

8/27/2011 02:27:02 am

Ryan is a wonderful man and his video is just as described. Accurate, compassionate and thorough. I am glad that it is received so well, and making people's lives better by ending this practice.

The home daycare is really helpful the children and their families. Education system of their is very good. I wanted to thank you for this great article. I enjoyed every single part of it and I will be waiting for the new updates.

Ryan McAllister

8/30/2011 12:47:54 am

Dear Sandy,

Thank you for your kind words! I believe it's the work of a large group of people that results in real social change. Each of us is an integral part of a team working to make the start of life easier on children and parents. I am very grateful for your ally-ship.

With appreciation,
Ryan

Katie

10/18/2011 01:56:03 am

Great video! Thank you Ryan for your work. I hope more people will wise up to this horrible practice.
-Proud mom of a intact baby boy :-)

Fantastic blog post and very useful information. I must appreciate the brilliant work by brilliant writer. Keep blogging. Best of luck.

michelle

2/12/2013 03:34:39 am

Hi, I came across your video on facebook. I have a 20 month old who could not be circumcised at birth due to a low blood count. 20 months later I am still unsure if I want him to be circumcised. I tried watching your video but because I am hard of hearing, I cannot understand word for word. Would it be possible to add subtitles to your video? I would really like to educate myself as much as possible and if I could I would also spread the word to my deaf friends.

Thanks

michelle

2/12/2013 03:35:40 am

I just realized this is not Ryan McAllisters website. Sorry for the mistake.

Ryan McAllister

3/30/2013 10:12:36 pm

Thank you for this great request and suggestion. I'm happy to report that the video now has English subtitles!